Part P Building Regulations: Notifiable Electrical Work, Competent Person Schemes and Self-Certification

Summary

Part P came into force in January 2005 under the Building Regulations 2000. Its purpose is to ensure electrical safety in homes — previously there was no requirement to notify Building Control of domestic electrical work, leading to widespread unsafe DIY installations.

The regulation applies to dwellings (houses, flats, garden buildings used as habitable space) and to communal areas of blocks of flats. It does not apply to commercial premises (which are covered by the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and BS 7671 as applied by competent electricians).

The key concept is that "notifiable work" requires either a registered competent person or a Building Notice. "Non-notifiable minor work" can be done by anyone competent, but must still comply with BS 7671. Many homeowners and small traders misunderstand this — they believe Part P only applies to full rewires, but it actually applies to most new circuits.

Key Facts

• Notifiable work — New circuits, consumer unit replacement, work in kitchens, bathrooms, outdoors and special locations, EV charger installation, solar PV, generator connections.
• Non-notifiable minor work — Adding a socket or spur to an existing circuit (not in special locations), replacing like-for-like accessories (switches, sockets), replacing a damaged cable, fitting a new light fitting.
• Special locations — Kitchens, bathrooms, outdoors, swimming pools — additional rules apply and more work becomes notifiable.
• Competent person schemes — NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, SELECT (Scotland). Registered electricians self-certify and notify on client's behalf.
• Building Notice route — Non-registered person submits Building Notice to LABC before starting. LABC may require inspection and testing by an approved inspector.
• Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) — Issued by registered electrician for all notifiable new work. Homeowner should keep for life of installation.
• Minor Works Certificate — Issued for non-notifiable minor work that still requires documentation.
• Certificate of Compliance — Issued by competent person scheme on behalf of registered member after notification.
• Third-party schemes — Building Control completion certificate issued after LABC inspection (Building Notice route).
• Testing requirement — All notifiable work must be inspected and tested to BS 7671: 2018+A2:2022. Test results recorded on EIC.
• Safe Isolation — Any electrical work requires safe isolation procedure: GS38 compliant test equipment, proved dead before starting.
• No retrospective EIC — Without original EIC, insurance and conveyancing require an EICR to verify the installation.

Quick Reference Table

Detailed Guidance

What Work Is Notifiable

Approved Document P (2013 edition) defines notifiable work as:

1. Installation of a new circuit — any new circuit originating from a consumer unit, distribution board or similar.
2. Replacement of a consumer unit — replacing a fuse box or distribution board in its entirety.
3. Work in special locations:
   • Zones 0, 1 and 2 of rooms containing a bath or shower (see bathroom zones)
   • Swimming pools and paddling pools
   • Garden/outdoor installations
   • Garages
   • Solar PV systems
   • EV charging equipment
   • Generators

The list above catches almost all significant electrical work. The practical implication: if in doubt, treat it as notifiable.

What Work Is NOT Notifiable (Minor Work)

• Adding a socket outlet or fused connection unit to an existing circuit (except in kitchens, bathrooms, outdoors).
• Replacing damaged or defective accessories (sockets, switches, light fittings) with the same type.
• Replacing a cable for a single circuit in an inaccessible wall where the original was damaged.
• Adding lighting points to an existing circuit (except in bathrooms/special locations).

Even non-notifiable work must comply with BS 7671. A Minor Works Certificate should be issued to record that the work is safe.

Competent Person Schemes

Registered competent persons can self-certify their work, removing the need for Building Control involvement. The main schemes:

What registration provides:

• Self-certification right — notify Building Control without LABC inspection
• Regular audit of members' technical competence
• Insurance-backed guarantee scheme
• Dispute resolution service

What to check when hiring: look for the scheme logo, search the scheme's online register by postcode or company name, and ask to see the registration card.

Building Notice Route

Where work is carried out by someone not registered with a competent person scheme:

1. Submit a Building Notice to your Local Authority Building Control (LABC) before starting work.
2. Pay the Building Notice fee (typically £150–£400 for electrical work, LA-dependent).
3. Carry out work complying with BS 7671.
4. Contact LABC to arrange inspection — they may require inspection during and/or after.
5. LABC may require an independent electrical test by an approved inspector.
6. LABC issues a completion certificate when satisfied.

Important: LABC will not issue a completion certificate unless the installation passes testing. This means the client (homeowner) may face additional inspection costs if the work fails.

Documentation

Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC):

• Issued for all new notifiable installations
• Records: description of work, design criteria, limitations, inspection schedules, test results
• Signed by designer, installer and inspector (may be same person for simple work)
• Model form in Appendix 6 of BS 7671:2018+A2:2022

Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR):

• Periodic inspection of an existing installation
• Codes: C1 (danger, remedy immediately), C2 (potentially dangerous), C3 (improvement recommended), FI (further investigation required)
• Landlords: 5-year mandatory cycle (or on change of tenancy)
• Buyers: often requested on purchase without existing EIC

Minor Works Certificate:

• For non-notifiable additions to existing circuits
• Records: circuit details, description of work, test results (continuity, insulation resistance, polarity)

Liability Without Documentation

If notifiable electrical work is carried out without a certificate or Building Control sign-off:

• The property is technically mortgageable and insurable, but many conveyancers require evidence
• Home insurance may not cover claims arising from the undocumented work
• When selling, the conveyancer will ask for building regs completion certificates — undocumented work must be declared or the seller faces potential liability
• An EICR cannot replace an EIC, but can demonstrate a safe installation retrospectively

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a homeowner do their own electrical work?

Yes — a homeowner can carry out electrical work in their own home. However, if it is notifiable, they must submit a Building Notice to LABC before starting. They will need to comply with BS 7671 and arrange for testing. They cannot self-certify (only registered competent persons can do that).

Does Part P apply to garden buildings?

Yes, if the garden building is used as a habitable room (office, gym, studio). The supply from the house to the building is notifiable (new circuit). The wiring within the building is also notifiable. NICEIC and similar registered electricians can self-certify the whole installation.

What happens if I buy a house and find undocumented electrical work?

Commission an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) from a registered electrician. If the installation is safe, note the EICR for future reference. If there are C1/C2 defects, remedy immediately. There is no requirement to retrospectively notify Building Control for pre-2005 work.

Does changing a consumer unit require Part P notification?

Yes — consumer unit replacement is always notifiable. It must be carried out by a registered competent person (or via Building Notice) and an EIC must be issued. Note also that replacement consumer units must comply with BS EN 61439-3 (consumer unit standard) and must be metal-enclosed since 2016 under Amendment 3 to 17th Edition.

Regulations & Standards

• Approved Document P (2013 edition) — Building Regulations: electrical safety in dwellings

• BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 — IET Wiring Regulations (18th Edition with Amendment 2): the technical standard for all electrical installation work

• Building Act 1984 — Primary legislation enabling Building Regulations

• Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 — Workplace electrical safety (does not apply to domestic)

• Building Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2214) — Statutory instrument containing Part P

• Competent Person Schemes — see Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities register of approved schemes

• Approved Document P — HM Government

• NICEIC — What is notifiable? — guidance

• IET Guidance Note 3 — Inspection and Testing — BS 7671 companion

• NAPIT Part P guide

• consumer unit upgrade — Consumer unit replacement detail

• testing commissioning — EIC and EICR testing procedures

• bathroom zones — Special location rules for bathrooms

• part p notifications — Summary notifiable work list